The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop How to update the the comfort zone

I would like to know some of my options to make the ride on my 53 better without breaking the bank lol. My only improvements so far have been new shocks and radials. I know these trucks were not designed for comfort, but at my age I sure would enjoy it! I should add that the roads where I live could use a few updates as well.

1953 3100?

Front sway (anti-sway) bar?

Used ones are hard to find (standard equipment on 47-55st panel-body trucks)

Make sure your shocks are good. Rebuild your leaf spring packs. Softer materials in your seat. Grease the suspension components regularly.

For the time being I’m going to allow this thread to remain here. At the first hint of modifications it will move to the HiPo forum. Fair warning.

what type of tires are you running... sometimes a change there can help

some times when you see a dip or bump coming learn to adjust your self
in the seat.. that use to help me,, I drove a 52 ever where with stock sup
just learn to deal with it...regardless if it was driven daily or long trips..
love the old feel of the steering,, but for sure your front sup needs
to be in top shape, maybe you too..lol

I have updated my 54, Pacer front end, Nova rear end with custom shocks and springs and it drives and rides much like an old truck. Also 2002 Buick Lesabre bucket seats. I put 3200 miles on it this year mostly long trips. With radial tires, it will ride hard but have better control. Just enjoy the smiles yours and others as long it is safe to drive.

What I have found that eases out some of the jolt is to put plastic liners between the spring leaves. This lets the leaves glide on each other and transfers a lot of the shock to the free swinging shackles rather than into the chassis. I think polypropaline works better than teflon as teflon gets trash imbedded in it. If you never haul a load you could leave out one or two SHORT leaves since the short ones are the ones that add stiffness while the long ones do the flexing.

Tim, I think an anti-sway bar would really help as well as replacing the tires. I have no idea how old the steering components are which probably need replaced also. Martin, would you explain what leaf "spring packs" are and who sells the parts to rebuild them? The shocks are new and the truck is a 3100. Thanks every one for the suggestions

The spring pack is the group of springs stacked together and bolted on. It’s not a “kit” just the springs themselves. Read coilover’s suggestions and ad new bushings making sure the spring eyes are not wallowed out. Then reinstall the reconditioned pack. Have fun.🛠

Have you checked the following (I simply replace these parts as preventative maintenance):

Spring-end pivot bushings/bolts.
Spring-end shackles sets, including bushings/bolts.
Rear-axle to spring pivot-bushings (inside the cast housing that sits on the middle of each rear spring, and that fits inside a bracket on the rear axle).

Rear axle bearing/seal (on each side - not too hard to remove/replace - you have to pull each axle - not hard, but it might be scary, if you have never done it). This made my Suburban's interior noise quieter, but might not do much for a pickup.

Place a Want Ad here for the anti-sway bar.
Jim Carter sells the bushing set - I think the bushings might be different sizes in different years.

Are all your front-end parts tight (and, accepting grease)?

Thanks again Tim and Martin for the additional information. Steve

Hi 53Movinon

How about a decent bench or bucket seats with a head rest out of a S10 or Ford Ranger truck or something similar???...the stock bench seats are not designed for comfort at all...

Just a thought...

MikeC

A friend of mine put plastic liners between his leaf springs and it made an incredible improvement in ride quality. Other then that an anti sway bar and radials on a well maintained truck are your best low dollar, mostly stock, mechanical improvements. As far as non mechanical improvements go I found that an early to mid '90 full size Chevy bench seat made a world of difference. It's more comfortable, doesn't bounce you around the cab like a pea in a tin can, and absorbs a LOT of road noise.